CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, June 15  -- The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to resume regular trips to the Bikol Region by Friday next week, PNR officials told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Tuesday.

The PNR halted its daily train trips to the Bikol province after the San Cristobal bridge here was destroyed when typhoons "Milenyo" and "Reming" battered Southern Luzon one after the other in 2006.

LEGAZPI CITY, June 17 -- Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) chairman and Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda assailed the decision to raise the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) toll fees which, he said, is tantamount to curtailment of trade and freedom to travel.

"Being a regular user of the SLEX, the 250% toll hike cannot be justified by the physical improvements we feel or likely to see, a far cry, compared to the dramatic changes in NLEX (North Luzon Expressway)," Salceda said.

Sorsogon City- Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan asked the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to immediately stop the operation of the Small Town Lottery (STL) in the province for lack of endorsement from the council.

In its session held Tuesday afternoon the council members grilled representatives of the PCSO on the STL operations being run by Oceania Sur Gaming Corporation headed by its president identified as Rodolfo Luna.

LEGAZPI CITY, June 17 - The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) has approved a P700-million loan package to Albay province to finance its technical and tertiary education scholarship program designed to produce "a college graduate for every family."

Albay Governor Joey Salceda signed the loan agreement with LBP president and Chief Executive Officer Gilda Pico to formalize the multi-million loan package that would finance a first-in-the country education strategy.

Sorsogon City- At least six municipalities and one city in the province of Sorsogon are in danger of losing its power supply anytime this coming months if the local electric cooperative would not be able to settle its accounts with the National Power Corporation.

Officers of the Sorsogon II Electric Cooperative (SORECO II) was compelled to reveal this at the special session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan after information leaked out that the electric cooperative was heavily indebted to the power agency.

"Kalayaan, tagumpay ng Bayan", this year's theme for the 112^th Philippine Independence Day celebration, aptly captures the essence of this year's commemoration of every Filipinos' much treasured freedom.

In honor of this historical moment, the University of Northeastern Philippines ' Center for Culture and the Arts ((UNEP-CCA) rendered a soul-warming interpretation of "Lupang Hinirang" through their dance and magnificent movements.

Legazpi City -There is a possibility that an earthquake may occur in the Bikol Region with a maximum magnitude of 6.8 and its epicenter is located at the trench of Albay Gulf (13.25'N 123.80' E) more or less 10 Kilometers East South East of Legazpi City Proper according to study of PHIVOLCS. Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) reveals that the damage that the earthquake may bring is the probable collapse of buildings built before the realization of the Building Code.